Super Eagles forward Taiwo Awoniyi was back on the score sheet after being without a goal in six Premier League games as his first half strike was not enough to help Nottingham Forest as they fell to a 3-2 defeat away at West Ham United.
The 26-year-old poked home his fourth league goal of the season after Alphonso Areola denied Morgan Gibbs-White initial effort on goal for the Garibaldis.
Lucas Paqueta had put the Hammers ahead in the third minute with a thumping strike into the bottom corner after a deflected pass from Nicolas Dominguez fell to the Brazilian just outside the box.
Awoniyi drew them level in the 44th minute tapping into an empty net after Gibbs-White’s effort was pushed into his path by Areola, who had earlier denied his header in the 12th minute.
Full-time at the London Stadium. pic.twitter.com/4Yhis8xgqO
— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) November 12, 2023
Forest took the lead three minutes after the hour mark through Swedish forward Anthony Elanga, who scored just his second league goal for Steve Cooper’s men. The former Manchester United man curls his low shot into the bottom corner after meeting Ola Aina’s low cross in the middle of the box.
Jarrod Bowen continued his fine form in front of goal for the Hammers with his eight strike in the Premier League this season. The Englishman connected with James Ward-Prowse’s inswinging corner kick, before heading the ball across the goal and into the top corner to level the scores two minutes after Forest’s took the lead.
Tomas Soucek got the winner for West Ham two minutes from regulation time after his effort crashed the bar in the 69th minute. The Czech midfielder connected with another brilliant corner from Ward-Prowse before sending his header into the bottom corner past Odysseas Vlachodimos in goal for Nottingham.
West Ham bounced back from their defeat against Brentford and move into ninth in the Premier League table, while Forest remaining 15th with 13 points.
David Moyes’ side will travel to Turf Moor next to face Burnley after the international break, while Nottinhgam Forwst will welcome Brighton and Hove Albion to the City Ground.
